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SAN JOSE -- Paul MacLean stopped some drills Friday and raised his voice a couple of times.

If practice makes perfect, he's still searching for that in the way the Senators are playing as they prepare to face the San Jose Sharks at the SAP Center Saturday night.

MacLean isn't complaining his club has four of a six possible points through its first three games, but he'd like to see more consistency and better discipline as this season-opening six-game trip winds its way towards a conclusion next Tuesday.

No, MacLean doesn't expect perfection, but he would like the Senators to get back to playing the way they're capable of because at the moment not everybody is getting the job done.

Coming out of a long training camp, quite frankly, MacLean thinks the Senators should be better.

"We have to stop taking penalties and shooting ourselves in the foot by doing that," said MacLean. "Also some of the aspects we turn the puck over and that's a self-inflicted type of injury that gives the opposition momentum or even goals.

"Those are two important things that we need to make sure (they're doing right). A lot of those things are focus and concentration."

MacLean said the Senators need to be better immediately.

"We have to deal with them now but, for me, that was what training camp was for and then when the season starts you should be ready to go," said MacLean.

"There's lots of ways you can argue I suppose but we need to find our game. Right now, we haven't found it. We don't play as good as we need to play. The good news is we've gotten points in every game, but the things we need to do that make us a good team we don't (do) consistently yet."

It might be early, but MacLean noted if the Senators want to be considered a top team in the East they need to do the work that got them there last year.

"We have to be here every day and working at making ourselves better," said MacLean. "We have to be willing to do the work that's necessary to make us an elite team.

"At this point in time of the season, and I know it's short and it's early, our willingness to do that work is something we're looking at."

CHEERING ON A LOCAL PRODUCT

Assistant GM Tim Murray and MacLean went to see Rideau View's Brad Fritsch playing in the Frys.com Open Thursday in Round 1 at the Cordevalle golf club in nearby San Martin. He was 2-over when they watched him play but they were thrilled to see the Manotick golfer fire a minus-7 Friday, earning him a weekend ticket in the first event of the PGA Tour's 2013-14 season. MacLean said it was nice to walk with Fritsch for 18 holes. "It was a good day to watch somebody that you know play on the PGA Tour," said MacLean. "I had never seen him play. I was very impressed with his demeanour and how he approached the game. They all hit it so well. That's impressive." Fritsch, who kept his card in dramatic fashion last month, will play again Saturday and then attend the club's game against the Sharks as a guest of GM Bryan Murray. One of Fritsch's major sponsors is the Senators. He has the club's logo on his hat, shirt and golf bag.

THIS N' THAT

The plan is to get backup G Robin Lehner in one of the final three games on this road trip and Saturday against the Sharks hasn't been ruled out. Lehner said he's ready and just waiting for the call. "I'm ready whenever they decide (to play him). There's not much more to it," said Lehner. "You practise every day. That's fine. You just have to stay ready mentally and just try to work hard in practice. That's all you can do. You just try to do well when you get the chance." The Senators have back-to-back games against the Sharks and Anaheim Ducks, so one of these next two makes sense ... Judging by practice Friday, it appears that Eric Gryba will be in for D Joe Corvo. That could change Saturday.

OFF THE GLASS

Senators D Marc Methot had no issues with the celebration by San Jose's Tomas Hertl after his fourth goal against the New York Rangers last week. "I don't mind it. A guy is celebrating. We're in an entertainment business. That's what we do," said Methot. "If it's me and I scored a fourth goal like that, I'd be pretty happy." ... C Zack Smith said the Sharks will be a tough, physical test. "They've had a great start (at 4-0). We'll be all right if we play our best game of the year. I don't think we've played our best hockey yet," said Smith.

Ottawa Senators coach Paul MacLean looking for improvement

SAN JOSE -- Paul MacLean stopped some drills Friday and raised his voice a couple of times.

If practice makes perfect, he's still searching for that in the way the Senators are playing as they prepare to face the San Jose Sharks at the SAP Center Saturday night.

MacLean isn't complaining his club has four of a six possible points through its first three games, but he'd like to see more consistency and better discipline as this season-opening six-game trip winds its way towards a conclusion next Tuesday.

No, MacLean doesn't expect perfection, but he would like the Senators to get back to playing the way they're capable of because at the moment not everybody is getting the job done.

Coming out of a long training camp, quite frankly, MacLean thinks the Senators should be better.

"We have to stop taking penalties and shooting ourselves in the foot by doing that," said MacLean.